Senator Rose, sponsor of Senate Bill 373, told the Senate Transportation and Safety Committee that the bill would require a “complete and accurate meets and bounds subscription of the property to be taken” in TDOT eminent‑domain petitions and would make “the compensation for the property to be taken must be established on the date on which the petition with a complete and accurate meets and bounds description is contained therein was served.”

The change, Rose said, has two parts: tightening the property description used in right‑of‑way takings and fixing the valuation date to when a petition that includes that complete description is served. The bill’s sponsor said the measure is intended to reduce state costs in condemnation cases and noted an amendment (No. 5257) was attached in committee.

Jay Klein, director of legislation for the Tennessee Department of Transportation, described the measure as addressing “a little bit more of some technical components,” particularly in coordination with the Attorney General’s office on eminent‑domain litigation. Autumn Cole, legislative liaison for the Department of Revenue, appeared to clarify departmental roles during questions from committee members.

Committee members asked whether agencies already use the described timing and descriptions. Klein said filing practices “can vary” and that TDOT legal staff were still reviewing the amendment and bill language; Senator Rose told members the House side had not yet received the amendment and changes could still be made there.

The committee adopted the amendment and then voted on the bill as amended. Clerk roll call recorded votes from Senators Bailey, Riggs, Hatcher, Pote, Powers, Seale, Taylor and Chairlady Massey as “aye,” yielding an 8‑0 vote in favor. The sponsor asked for a favorable report.

The committee record shows the bill was advanced for further consideration by the full Senate; committee staff listed the next committee as Finance, Ways and Means.